Announced Actions for August 21, 1998

Petitions to reopen and modify orders: The FTC has received a petition from the following entity seeking changes in an FTC order. The FTC is seeking public comments on the newly-received petition for 30 days, until September 21, 1998.

• Emerson Electric Co. and Emerson Power Transmission Corp. have petitioned the FTC to reopen and modify a 1990 consent order and delete the prior approval and reporting requirements of the order. The petition notes that in 1995 the Commission revised its Rules of Practice and "concluded that 'a general policy of requiring prior approval [in consent orders] is no longer needed, ... ." Comments on this petition should be addressed to the FTC, Office of the Secretary, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. (Docket No. C-3291; Staff contact is Roberta Baruch, 202-326-2861.)

Commission action regarding applications for approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has ruled on an application for approval of the following transaction:

• The Commission has voted to approve the application of Supervalu Inc. to sell two supermarkets to The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P). The stores to be divested are the former Delchamps Store #364 in Orange Grove, MS, and the former Jitney-Jungle Store #42 in Gulfport, MS. Jitney-Jungle originally sold the stores to Supervalu to comply with the FTC consent order that resolved concerns about Jitney-Jungle's purchase of stores in various markets in Mississippi and Florida. The order also provided that for a period of three years if Supervalu decides to resell the stores, it must obtain the Commission's approval prior to the sale. The Commission vote to approve the application was 4-0. (See news releases dated April 28, 1998; January 30, 1998; September 12, 1997; Docket No. C-3784; Staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, 202-326-2526.)

Consent agreements given final approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has made final the following consent agreement. The Commission action makes the consent order binding on the respondent.

• The Commission has approved a consent order against Honeywell, Inc. that resolves FTC charges that the company made unsubstantiated efficiency and allergy relief claims for its Honeywell Air Purifiers. The Commission vote to approve the consent order as final was 4-0. (See news release dated December 17, 1997; Staff contact is Linda K. Badger or Kerry O'Brien, 415-356-5270.)

• A consent order against Institutional Pharmacy Network (IPN) has been made final by the Commission. Under the terms of the order, IPN is prohibited from engaging in any joint price negotiations or price agreements. In its complaint, the FTC alleged that IPN and its five member pharmacies agreed to fix prices for prescription drugs the group provided to patients in Oregon long-term care institutions. The Commission vote to make the order final was 4-0. (See news release dated May 21, 1998; File No. 961-0005; Staff contact is Willard Tom, 202-326-2786.)

Copies of the documents referenced above are available from the FTC's web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-3128; TTY for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710.